Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) Monday afternoon stated in a hastily-called press conference that he has made “terrible mistakes.” The embattled Congressman, generally the one leading the charge, was caught defending himself over the past eight days after less-than credible media mogul Andrew Breitbart published a photograph, reportedly of Weiner in his underwear. The Congressman said last week he was unable to unequivocally state it was not him, although the media reports Weiner’s Twitter account, from which the photo was sent, had been hacked.
Weiner said he indeed had tweeted the inappropriate photo accidentally, and had intended it to be a private message to the woman.
Reporters grilled Weiner on his relationship with his wife and repeatedly asked where she is. “She is not here.”
“I never met any of these women, I never had any physical relationship with these women.” Weiner refused to say specifically if he ever had phone sex with any of the women.
Weiner said, “I have made terrible mistakes and I have not been honest with myself or my constituents.”
“I don’t believe I did anything that violates my oath of office.”
“I have engaged in several inappropriate conversations. I have engaged in inappropriate behavior with approximately six women. I’ve done things I deeply regret. I’m deeply sorry. I apologize to my wife as well as our friends and supporters.”
“I was embarrassed, I was humiliated, I was trying to protect my wife, I was trying to protect myself from shame.â€
“I believe that everyone deserves an apology here… I apologize to Andrew Breitbart.”
“My wife has known about some of these online relationship since before we were married.”
“I came here to accept full responsibility for what have done. I accept responsibility for this.”
“I don’t know what I was thinking. It was wrong and I regret it.”
“I love my wife very much and we have no intention of splitting up over this.”
“I don’t believe that I used any government resources.”
This was a very dumb thing to do. It wasn’t part of a plan, it was a destructive thing I did that I accept responsibility for.”
“It was a very dumb thing.”
“This is a deep weakness that I have demonstrated.”
Accusations have been flying all day long, and Andrew Breitbart claims he has a vault-full of photos and Internet messages reportedly from Weiner that paint the Congressman as Washington’s first Internet sexter.
Breitbart had grabbed the microphone at Weiner’s press conference even before the Congressman made his statement to reporters. Breitbart has been at the center of discredited videos that ultimately led to the firing of Shirley Sherrod, and the destruction of ACORN, along with creating a harmful environment for Planned Parenthood.
Breitbart called attacks on his credibility, “an attempt to blame the messenger.”